Proclaiming May of 2026 to Be "Motorcycle Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Motorcycle Association was started in 1974 in West Warwick, as a nonprofit motorcycle rights organization to protect the freedoms of riders in Rhode Island through safety, education and legislation; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Motorcycle Association has worked closely with Governors, legislators and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation to advance the freedom of choice and the safety of motorcycle riders in Rhode Island with fair and equitable solutions; and

WHEREAS, The theme for "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" is "Share the Road: It's Everyone's Responsibility." This theme emphasizes that everyone, including drivers and motorcyclists, has an important role to play in ensuring safe roads. The goal is to educate riders on the importance of safe riding practices, defensive riding techniques and the need to wear protective gear. The theme also urges all riders to obey traffic laws, to maintain their motorcycles properly, to take motorcycle safety courses, to wear bright clothing and use lights to stay visible to other motorists, to use defensive riding techniques, and urges drivers to give motorcycles ample space; and

WHEREAS, Motorcycle riding is an economical and popular form of transportation enjoyed by about eight percent (8%) of the American people. It provides a more efficient mode of transportation than cars or trucks, uses up fewer resources, causes less wear and tear on our roads and highways, and increases available parking spaces; and

WHEREAS, Motorcycle accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence, with estimates suggesting that such fatal incidents occur approximately once every twelve minutes in America and account for more than fifteen percent (15%) of all traffic fatalities, despite the fact that only three percent (3%) of all registered vehicles are motorcycles; and

WHEREAS, Because motorcycles don’t have seat belts or airbags, and they are much smaller than cars, motorcyclists are twenty-two times more likely to die in a crash than those driving cars; and

WHEREAS, As of January 2023, the total number of public, personal, and commercial motorcycles registered in the United States and the District of Columbia totaled approximately 8.8 million, with 28,376 registered in Rhode Island as of February 2024; and

WHEREAS, Data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA) states that in 2023, 6,335 motorcyclists died in traffic accidents in the United States, which is approximately seventeen motorcyclists killed per day; and

WHEREAS, Distracted driving poses one of the biggest dangers to other motorists, especially motorcyclists. Distractions can be any activity that takes a driver's focus off the task of driving, including eating and drinking, talking or texting on the phone, and numerous other distractions, all of which pose serious dangers to the motorcycle driving public; and

WHEREAS, While there are no prescribed means to prevent motorcycle wrecks, greater awareness of motorist safety and potential existing risks can arm riders with the knowledge they need to help mitigate dangerous situations while on the road; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May of 2026, to be "Motorcycle Awareness Month" in the State of Rhode Island, and urges all motorists to avoid distracted driving; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association.